Word of the Week

Consider this...

Mindfulness is one of the most important Buddhist concepts there is. Take a look at the formal definition: “consciousness or awareness of something.” I would argue that the “of something” at the end is best dropped. Rather than be aware of something in particular, I would contend that mindfulness is actually a practice in order to achieve a like-named state of being.

What Our Minds Are Doing

Mindfulness is all about our minds’ awareness of their current situation. The modern American spends an overwhelming amount of his or her time doing three things mentally: planning, judging and dwelling. That is, we think about what we’re going to do later, we dwell on what we’ve already done and we judge those around us for what they’re doing. That’s a lot of wasted mental energy and time - not to mention the opportunity cost of not appreciating the present. That’s not to say that each of those actions doesn’t have a time or a place, but really, they’re preventing us from doing something very important: living in the present.

What Mindfulness is About

Mindfulness is all about living in the moment that you’re in. When you’re mindful, you’re not worrying about the future, dwelling on the past or judging others. You’re appreciating where you are the moment that you’re there. It’s driving and noticing the passing homes and people. It’s walking and seeing the nature around you and not mulling over the events of the day. It’s not shutting the mind off or some form of meditating. It’s letting the mind be where it is so that you are actually living.

When you ride a roller-coaster do you think about the next day’s meeting? When you are splashing around in the ocean with friends do you think about whether or not what you said last week at that dinner party was stupid? I bet you don’t. I bet you’re living in those moments, savoring the thoughts related to them and enjoying your existence in the presence, because those moments are relatively unique and fun. Mindfulness is about living every moment like that, even as you do what is seemingly the most mundane of acts. It’s about being in your life as you walk to the bathroom at work rather than thinking about what you have to do when you get back to your desk.

Now I know we live in the modern world and sometimes you need those 5 minutes on the way to the bathroom to get a quick grip and think about what comes next. That’s fine. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be a permanent state of being every moment. First of all, it’s hard to achieve. It’s a slow process that takes time. Second of all, the more often you can be mindful, the more you will live your life, and doing that every moment isn’t necessary. Just do what you can.

The First Step to Mindfulness

The first step to mindfulness is about learning to see how often you think about things other than your present state. The way you do this is to acknowledge those thoughts by becoming mindful of them. Don’t get mad the next time you find yourself planning or dwelling or judging. Just say in your head, “judging,” in a totally normal and non-judgmental way as a means of noting that you were doing it. Start doing this about all of your thoughts - recognize what kinds of thoughts they are. You’re not going to stop them right away, and you can’t be mad at yourself for thinking them, but by acknowledging these thoughts you will come to see how often you are having them and how much mental energy you are wasting on them. In this way, you will begin to have them less and start to be more mindful.

Start to practice being mindful of your thoughts and the more you do that, the more you will come to exist in your present and enjoy the life you’re living while you’re living it.

Want some great tips for this week to practice while you’re being mindful? Check out our experts’ tips here.